SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

(in re Ethan Frome)
Randy wrote: "I also thought it was, or at least bordered on, Grand Guignol where the punishments doled out seem to exceed the degree of the crime. Looked at from one perspective, it's very nearly a horror novel"

There's definitely something unearthly/unhealthy about that house--it diminishes anybody who lives there for long. The introduction of the edition I read compared it to Gothic novels.

Since I'm still not able to read text very well, it seemed like a good time to turn to some comfort reading with Cast in Fury.

In audio I'm about halfway through People Who Eat Darkness: The True Story of a Young Woman Who Vanished from the Streets of Tokyo--and the Evil That Swallowed Her Up, which is just about the opposite of comfort reading. Life in balance!

Witchfinder by Sarah A. Hoyt

Beth wrote: "...Since I'm still not able to read text very well, it seemed like a good time to turn to some comfort reading with Cast in Fury...."

OMG I totally read that as CATS in Fury & was totally intrigued & clicked the link!
(Maybe the mod's poll has infected my brain???)
:-D

lol sorry about that Joelle XD

Gabi wrote: "This is the third Pulitzer Prize winner I've read and all of them stood out to me so far. I guess I should start going through those winners one-by-one."

I highly recommend The Quick and the Dead - not a Pulitzer winner, but a finalist. The writing is just splendid.

I finished:


All These Worlds by Dennis E. Taylor
Rating: 3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and I started reading:

Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold

Dj wrote: "I remember Foglio used to do a comic series in the original Dragon magazine called What's New. It was one of the best things about the magazine sometimes...."

Yup. What's New With Phil and Dixie. Still waiting for the long-delayed Sex in D&D segment.

I'm sad to say I haven't gotten around to Girl Genius yet, but I'm glad to hear you like it so well. I really enjoyed his Robert Asprin's Myth Adventures Vol. 1 graphic novels. I wish I still had those, along with all my old Cerebus the Aardvark issues.

Also, I just learned that a Google image search for "Sex in D&D" will bring up some truly bizarre results in addition to some of the Phil Foglio stuff. I do not recommend trying it at work.

thanks for taking that one on for us, RJ XD

I finished reading Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold. I am reading The Blood Mirror by Brent Weeks I plan to read Phantoms of Ruthaer by Jason McDonald next.

RJ from the LBC wrote: "Dj wrote: "I remember Foglio used to do a comic series in the original Dragon magazine called What's New. It was one of the best things about the magazine sometimes...."

Yup. What's New With Phil ..."

He published that in XXXfiles.

He also did some artwork for the short-lived Myth Adventure comic series.

Is anyone participating in this year's Magical Readathon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRuZ4...)? It's very beautifully made - you can choose a Wizarding career you'd like to pursue (in the Harry Potter world) and pass your OWLs and NEWTs by reading books that match certain prompts. You can check out the lovingly designed materials here: https://www.magicalreadathon.com/copy...

I'm having a hard time focusing on serious and literary books at the moment, so I've come up with a purely "quick and easy fun reads" TBR (also including some middle grade and YA books) that are all very gripping to help me stay focused.

This month's group books look great, as well, but I think I'll read them a bit later to be able to focus on my OWLs this month (I want to be a magizoologist specializing on dragons).

Gabi: if you like Pulitzer winners, then you'll probably love the Booker Prize winners as well, I think there are some really beautiful books in there: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...

I've just finished a reread of Dune and increased my rating to 5 stars - it definitely has depths I failed to see when I was younger, and the wildly romantic desert atmosphere was just the right thing to immerse myself in during quarantine.

Next up (don't judge, I'd like some pure, easy to read fun right now): Shadow of the Fox, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow, LIFEL1K3, and Clockwork Angel.

No judgement here Eva. I loved Nevermoor and I have all the others here ready to read except the Clockwork one.

Thanks, Jacqueline - I think some books just offer more emotional nourishment than others, and books intended for younger readers often do that best. Looking forward to reading them!

Yeah I’m looking towards my YA books at the moment too.

I’m still reading Winter Rose by Patricia McKillip, which is just beautiful. I’m almost done. It’s not a long book, but it’s taken me a lot longer than it really should have. But then it’s nice to savor the language.

Oh and I also just started Picard: The Last Best Hope, on audio, which is a companion to this latest Star Trek iteration. I’m not far into it, but there’s lots to like.

Diane wrote: "Oh and I also just started Picard: The Last Best Hope, on audio, which is a companion to this latest Star Trek iteration. I’m not far into it, but there’s lots to like."

Aagh, I have that audio but I can't listen to it because I haven't seen Picard yet. I should do something about that.

Diane wrote: "I’m still reading Winter Rose by Patricia McKillip, which is just beautiful. I’m almost done. It’s not a long book, but it’s taken me a lot longer than it really should have. But then it’s nice to ..."

What's the point of reading McKillip if not slowly enough to savor the language?

RJ from the LBC wrote: "Also, I just learned that a Google image search for "Sex in D&D" will bring up some truly bizarre results in addition to some of the Phil Foglio stuff. I do not recommend trying it at work."

LOL! Thanks for the warning XD

RJ from the LBC wrote: "Also, I just learned that a Google image search for "Sex in D&D" will bring up some truly bizarre results in addition to some of the Phil Foglio stuff. I do not recommend tr..."

reminds me of trying to find the cookbooks from the Two Fat Ladies (I didn't know their names) using Google. Lots of beautiful, bounteous babes websites in the results

I finished up March by reading Breakaway which is the second Cassandra Kresnov novel. Light and fun for militaryish sci fi. I then started off April by reading The City We Became which I really enjoyed. It stands pretty well alone but also sets up a more vague overarching story. Now I'm reading the third Cassandra Kresnov novel, Killswitch.

I finished: 1634: The Ram Rebellion


Interesting use of Short Stories written by different authors to bring an overarching story to life. The start of it doesn't seem to be leading to any real change in the World of the Ring of Fire, the stories are funny, especially when they are including the Ram Brillo and all of them are more even in the writing that you get from a normal collection of short stories. A very unusual way to present a story but well worth the read if you are taking an interest in the series.

Just started The Book of Koli by MRCarey. It reminds me a little of Black Leopard Red Wolf. I just remember Tracker’s voice permeating every aspect of that novel and Koli’s voice is much the same. Not very far in yet but I’m very much enjoying it.

My review of The Last Day by Andrew Hunter Murray

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thank You DJ, I enjoy the 1632/ ring of fire series, don't think I've read that on yet.

Don wrote: "Thank You DJ, I enjoy the 1632/ ring of fire series, don't think I've read that on yet."

It is a fun romp through time displacement/alt history. Some of the places they mention in Germany are real. Some of the places...well not so much. Since he lets other authors jump in more often than most other series I have read it tends to stay a tad fresher than you would expect.

@Thomas - I struggled a lot with A Time of Dread. It wasn’t bad but there a couple POVs that really didn’t agree with me.

It sounds like you liked Malice better? I’ve been wondering if I should go back and read that one to see if it agrees with me any more.

I didn’t struggle with understanding so much as the parts of it that felt very YA to me. But thanks for the Rec! I’ll check it out.

I am reading Blood of Elves at the moment. I need some more of The Witcher after watching the Netflix series.

Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 1 by Kamome Shirahama

I finished Killswitch which was another solid entry in the series. Nothing groundbreaking just good light military sci fi. Now I'm embarking on The Sleep of Stone which was my Litsy BookSpin pick.

I am listening to False Value by Ben Aaronovitch. So good to listen to Kobna Holdbrook-Smith narrating again.

Well, I've been enjoying the Hitchhiker's Guide books, thanks to my eldest daughter bringing home an omnibus. I'd heard the first two on audiobook, so read those in print as a reread, but the third one is my favourite so far, I think--Life, the Universe and Everything. I had always thought I wouldn't like them nearly as much in print, but it turns out, I just don't care as much for The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. I am going to read the fourth one this evening.

I am reading at least a book a day right now, mostly short, many of them light and fun, but some of them not so much.

Last night I got done with the latest from Sarah J. Maas: House of Earth and Blood

It was pretty epic! I love the world she's built because it has everything - fae, angels, demons, shapeshifters ... but they're also using phones and living in regular apartments etc. So a really great blend of science and fantasy. Is it still urban fantasy if the city contains portals to other worlds and broom traffic?

Plus the mystery at the centre of the story is pretty complicated and keeps you guessing the whole time. Good fun!

My detailed review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just finished a ReRead of "This Alien Shore" Liked it.

"Passages" by Olan Thorensen
a reasonable continuation to the series.

Still working on Quillifer The Knight" by Walter Jon Williams and it fun.

Going to start "Mort" next.

I finished Valor. I won't continue the series. It sagged big time for me. Thought I'd give Hyperion a try next.

I just read Ken Liu's new collection The Hidden Girl and Other Stories. It is, and I do not exaggerate, the best short story collection I have ever read. Maybe half of the stories are going onto my list of favorite short stories. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

@Jamesboggie: I was following your updates over the last days with fascination. Your enthusiasm totally convinced me.

Hyperion is one of my all time favorites Eric. I think you'll have a blast reading it!

Stratos wrote: "Hyperion is one of my all time favorites Eric. I think you'll have a blast reading it!"

Thanks! I'm just getting into it.

CBRetriever wrote: "reminds me of trying to find the cookbooks from the Two Fat Ladies (I didn't know their names) "

I hadn't thought of them in years and now three times in two days they have come up! Weird. Apparently the universe is hinting that I need more butter, cream, and bacon in my diet.

Jamesboggie wrote: "I just read Ken Liu's new collection The Hidden Girl and Other Stories. It is, and I do not exaggerate, the best short story collection I have ever read. Maybe half of the stories a..."

I read his The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories and was blown away. He's an incredibly talented writer. But so sad! Most of his stories were just heartbreaking. Is this collection like that?

Michele wrote: "CBRetriever wrote: "reminds me of trying to find the cookbooks from the Two Fat Ladies (I didn't know their names) "

I hadn't thought of them in years and now three times in two days they have com..."

whatever you do, don't' try the Beets au Gratin recipe. It tastes delicious, but I made it one evening when Mr CBR wasn't home until late and put it in the frigo so he could eat it when he got home. When he did, I heard this loud WTF? from the kitchen. it looked like beets in a Pepto Bismol hot pink sauce

https://pepto-bismol.com/en-us

Duly noted XD

That actually sounds good to me. I love beets. I love pink. LOL

Thanks to two BotMs in two GR groups I have discovered a new fav author for me. In both books by Jo Walton she tinkers with historical philosophers and sets them into a supernatural environment. Lent as well as The Just City are both awesome thought experiments for readers who like philosophical topics. I was swept away and can't wait to read her next book (once the BotMs are through)

Up the Walls of the World by James Tiptree Jr. was another example of great speculative fiction of the softer kind. Tiptree explores the topics of communications and psychology on three different levels in her story. Lovely done.

Death's End by Liu Cixin was a terrific ending to one of the most ambitious and intelligent SF series. I'm simply in awe of the mind of this author.

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson was a positive surprise. A solid zombie apocalypse story with an ending that adds an additional layer. (I neither knew the story nor any movie adaptation)

The only one of my recent reads I absolutely could not get into was The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein. I once weeded him out in my 90ies SF phase. But since my taste changed since then and some of the 'banned' authors are now to my liking (*cough* UKLG *cough*) I read myself through them again. Yet my dislike for Heinlein seems to stay.

I adore James Tiptree. Every single story is a win for me. "Your Haploid Heart" and "The Screwfly Solution" are still two of the coolest/weirdest stories out there.

Michele wrote: "I adore James Tiptree. Every single story is a win for me. "Your Haploid Heart" and "The Screwfly Solution" are still two of the coolest/weirdest stories out there."

I need to get back to Her Smoke Rose Up Forever, an SFBotM Club selection waaaay back when, before they changed editors and seemed to lose whatever edge they'd had. (Sorry to anyone who may have been part of that editorial staff, but the club lost me shortly afterward as the selections seemed more commercial and safe.) I loved "The Screwfly Solution" and "The Last Flight of Dr. Ain"; it was like I'd started an s.f. collection and found myself knee-deep in horror stories. And I was blown away by "The Man Who Walked Home," the central image of which was heart-rending.

I've owned The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and Stranger in a Strange Land for more years than I can remember and never gotten to them. I need to keep them in mind, too, but I've always preferred his short fiction to his novels. I can pretty much say that about any of Heinlein's contemporaries or near-contemporaries too, with the possible exception of Alfred Bester.

Jo Walton's Farthing, first of her Small Change trilogy (at least, that's how GR describes the trilogy) is sitting on Mount TBR calling me. Good to hear positive things about her other novels, too. Starlings, her story collection, is interesting and beautifully written, but I haven't finished it because she's right that she didn't really know how to write a short story early on as she experimented trying to learn the form. Eventually I'll get back to those and the poems. Probably pretty soon, since darker fiction like what I'm reading now isn't as attractive one after the other in a dark, unpredictable time.

That said, so far The Good House reads like early prime Stephen King if King had had a stronger line editor and a much stronger sense of how Black characters would think and feel in a situation that is gradually becoming stranger and more dangerous. There's the introduction to a few characters, a sense of the small town the story takes place in, and looming danger hinted at by off-register events. And, of course, someone dies in an unexplained way.

I read Due's Ghost Summer: Stories collection a couple of years ago and have been looking forward to tackling this novel since. One of the book's cover blurbs describes Due as joining "the upper ranks of reliable, worth-your money American popular novelist(s)". I'd change "novelist" to "writer" and so far would agree.

Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss isn't quite SFF, but it deals with a group of folks attempting to reenact the dark magic, rituals, and landscapes of ancient Britain. It's a slim fast read, and I really was drawn in.

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede was just the sort of cozy fantasy I find myself seeking to drive away the anxiety. It was simple and predictable -- both in just the right ways.